# Liverpool (UK Parliament constituency)

Liverpool was a borough constituency in the county of Lancashire of the House of Commons for the Parliament of England to 1706 then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It was represented by two Members of Parliament (MPs). In 1868, this was increased to three Members of Parliament.
The borough franchise was held by the freemen of the borough. Each elector had as many votes as there were seats to be filled. Votes had to be cast by a spoken declaration, in public, at the hustings. In 1800 there were around 3000 electors, with elections in this seat being nearly always contested.
The borough returned several notable Members of Parliament including Prime Minister George Canning, William Huskisson, President of the Board of Trade, Banastre Tarleton, noted soldier in the American War of Independence and most notably, William Roscoe the abolitionist and Anti Slave Trade campaigner.
The constituency was abolished in 1885, the city being split into nine divisions of Abercromby, East Toxteth, Everton, Exchange, Kirkdale, Scotland, Walton, West Derby and West Toxteth.

## History

The borough of Liverpool exercised the privilege of sending two members to Parliament in 1295 and 1307, but then for 240 years the right was wholly suspended. In the first Parliament of Edward VI, which met 4 November 1547, though Elective Franchise was restored to the two Lancashire boroughs of Liverpool and Wigan and has since continued almost without further interruption.
Representation was increased to three Members in 1868 and the constituency abolished in 1885, to be replaced by the nine new constituencies of Abercromby, East Toxteth, Everton, Exchange, Kirkdale, Scotland, Walton, West Derby and West Toxteth.

## Members of Parliament
### 1295–1640

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1295 | Adam fitz Richard | Robert Pinklowe |
| 1300–1307 | Richard de la More | John de la More |
| 1545 | Nicholas Cutler | Gilbert Gerard |
| 1547 | Thomas Stanley | ?Francis Cave or Richard Taverner |
| 1553 (Mar) | William Bromley | Ralph Assheton |
| 1553 (Oct) | William Bromley | Sir Giles Alington |
| 1554 (Apr) | William Bromley | Sir William Norris |
| 1554 (Nov) | William Bromley | John Beaumont |
| 1555 | Sir Richard Sherborn | John Beaumont |
| 1558 | William Stopford | George White |
| 1559 (Jan) | Sir Thomas Smith | Ralph Browne |
| 1562–3 | Sir Richard Molyneux | Ralph Sekerston |
| 1571 | Thomas Avery | Ralph Sekerston |
| 1572 | Ralph Sekerston, died and repl. 1576 by Thomas Greenacres, died and repl. April 1583 by Arthur Atye | Mathew Dale |
| 1584 | Arthur Atye | John Molyneux |
| 1586 | John Poole | William Cavendish |
| 1588 (Oct) | Edward Warren | Francis Bacon |
| 1593 | Michael Doughty | John Wroth |
| 1597 (Oct) | Thomas Gerard | Peter Probie |
| 1601 (Oct) | Edward Anderson | Hugh Calverley |
| 1604 | Giles Brook | Thomas Remchinge |
| 1614 | Thomas Ireland | Sir Hugh Beeston |
| 1621–1622 | Thomas May | William Johnson |
| 1624 | Sir Thomas Gerard, 2nd Baronet | George Ireland |
| 1625 | Lord Strange | Edward Moore |
| 1626 | Edward Bridgeman | Thomas Stanley |
| 1628 | Henry Jermyn | John Newdigate |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | No Parliaments summoned |

### 1640–1868

| Election | First member | First member | First party | Second member | Second member | Second party |
| April 1640 | | Lord Cranfield | | | John Holcroft | |
| November 1640 | | Sir Richard Wynn, Bt. | Parliamentarian | | John Moore | Parliamentarian |
| December 1648 | Wynn excluded in Pride's Purge – seat vacant | Wynn excluded in Pride's Purge – seat vacant | Wynn excluded in Pride's Purge – seat vacant | | | | John Moore | Parliamentarian |
| October 1649 | | Thomas Birch | | | John Moore | Parliamentarian |
| June 1650 | | Thomas Birch | | Moore died June 1650 – seat left vacant | Moore died June 1650 – seat left vacant | Moore died June 1650 – seat left vacant |
| 1653 | Liverpool was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Liverpool was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Liverpool was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Liverpool was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Liverpool was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Liverpool was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 | | Thomas Birch | | Liverpool had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Liverpool had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Liverpool had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| 1656 | | Thomas Birch | | Liverpool had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Liverpool had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Liverpool had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| January 1659 | | Gilbert Ireland | | | Thomas Blackmore | |
| May 1659 | Liverpool was unrepresented in the restored Rump | Liverpool was unrepresented in the restored Rump | Liverpool was unrepresented in the restored Rump | Liverpool was unrepresented in the restored Rump | Liverpool was unrepresented in the restored Rump | Liverpool was unrepresented in the restored Rump |
| April 1660 | | Sir Gilbert Ireland | | | William Stanley | |
| 1670 | | Sir Gilbert Ireland | | | Sir William Bucknall | |
| 1675 | | William Banks | | | Sir William Bucknall | |
| 1677 | | Sir Ralph Assheton, Bt. | | | Richard Atherton | |
| 1679 | | Ruisshe Wentworth | | | John Dubois | |
| 1685 | | Sir Richard Atherton | | | Thomas Legh | |
| 1689 | | Richard Savage, Viscount Colchester | Whig | | Thomas Norris | |
| 1694 | | Thomas Brotherton | | | Thomas Norris | |
| January 1695 | | Thomas Brotherton | | | Jasper Maudit | |
| November 1695 | | Sir William Norris, Bt. | | | Jasper Maudit | |
| 1698 | | Sir William Norris, Bt. | | | William Clayton | |
| 1701 (Dec) | | (Sir) Thomas Johnson | Whig | | William Clayton | |
| 1708 | | (Sir) Thomas Johnson | Whig | | Richard Norris | |
| 1710 | | (Sir) Thomas Johnson | Whig | | John Cleiveland | |
| 1713 | | (Sir) Thomas Johnson | Whig | | William Clayton | |
| 1715 | | (Sir) Thomas Johnson | Whig | | Edward Norris | |
| 1722 | | (Sir) Thomas Johnson | Whig | | William Cleiveland | |
| 1723 | | Langham Booth | | | William Cleiveland | |
| April 1724 | | Langham Booth | | | Thomas Bootle | |
| November 1724 | | Thomas Brereton | | | Thomas Bootle | |
| 1729 | | Sir Thomas Aston, Bt. | | | Thomas Bootle | |
| 1734 | | Thomas Brereton | | | Richard Gildart | |
| 1754 | | Thomas Brereton | | | John Hardman | |
| 1755 | | Thomas Brereton | | | (Sir) Ellis Cunliffe | |
| 1756 | | Charles Pole | | | (Sir) Ellis Cunliffe | |
| 1761 | | Sir William Meredith, Bt. | Tory | | (Sir) Ellis Cunliffe | |
| 1767 | | Sir William Meredith, Bt. | Tory | | Richard Pennant | Tory |
| 1780 | | Bamber Gascoyne | Tory | | Henry Rawlinson | |
| 1784 | | Bamber Gascoyne | Tory | | Richard Pennant | Whig |
| 1790 | | Bamber Gascoyne | Tory | | Banastre Tarleton | Tory |
| 1796 | | Isaac Gascoyne | Tory/Ultra-Tory | | Banastre Tarleton | Tory |
| 1806 | | Isaac Gascoyne | Tory/Ultra-Tory | | William Roscoe | Whig |
| 1807 | | Isaac Gascoyne | Tory/Ultra-Tory | | Banastre Tarleton | Tory |
| 1812 | | Isaac Gascoyne | Tory/Ultra-Tory | | George Canning | Tory |
| 1823 | | Isaac Gascoyne | Tory/Ultra-Tory | | William Huskisson | Tory |
| November 1830 | | Isaac Gascoyne | Tory/Ultra-Tory | | William Ewart | Radicals |
| May 1831 | | Evelyn Denison | Whig | | William Ewart | Radicals |
| October 1831 | | Dudley Ryder | Tory | | William Ewart | Radicals |
| 1834 | | Dudley Ryder | Conservative | | William Ewart | Radicals |
| 1837 | | Dudley Ryder | Conservative | | Cresswell Cresswell | Conservative |
| 1842 | | Dudley Ryder | Conservative | | Howard Douglas | Conservative |
| 1847 | | Edward Cardwell | Peelite | | Sir Thomas Birch, Bt | Whig |
| 1852 | | Charles Turner | Conservative | | William Forbes Mackenzie | Conservative |
| 1853 | | Thomas Horsfall | Conservative | | Henry Liddell | Conservative |
| 1855 | | Thomas Horsfall | Conservative | | Joseph Christopher Ewart | Whig |
| 1859 | | Thomas Horsfall | Conservative | | Joseph Christopher Ewart | Liberal |
| 1865 | | Thomas Horsfall | Conservative | | Samuel Robert Graves | Conservative |

### 1868–1885

* Constituency increased to three Members (1868)
| Election | First member | First member | First party | Second member | Second member | Second party | Third member | Third member | Third party |
| 1868 | | Samuel Robert Graves | Conservative | | Viscount Sandon | Conservative | | William Rathbone | Liberal |
| 1873 by-election | | John Torr | Conservative | | Viscount Sandon | Conservative | | William Rathbone | Liberal |
| Feb 1880 by-election | | Edward Whitley | Conservative | | Viscount Sandon | Conservative | | William Rathbone | Liberal |
| 1880 | | Edward Whitley | Conservative | | Viscount Sandon | Conservative | | John Ramsay | Liberal |
| Aug 1880 by-election | | Edward Whitley | Conservative | | Viscount Sandon | Conservative | | Lord Claud Hamilton | Conservative |
| 1882 by-election | | Edward Whitley | Conservative | | Samuel Smith | Liberal | | Lord Claud Hamilton | Conservative |
| 1885 | Constituency abolished (Redistribution of Seats Act 1885) | Constituency abolished (Redistribution of Seats Act 1885) | Constituency abolished (Redistribution of Seats Act 1885) | Constituency abolished (Redistribution of Seats Act 1885) | Constituency abolished (Redistribution of Seats Act 1885) | Constituency abolished (Redistribution of Seats Act 1885) | Constituency abolished (Redistribution of Seats Act 1885) | Constituency abolished (Redistribution of Seats Act 1885) | Constituency abolished (Redistribution of Seats Act 1885) |

## Elections
### Pre-1832

General election 1830: Liverpool (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | Isaac Gascoyne | 191 | 40.5 |
| | Tory | William Huskisson | 188 | 39.8 |
| | Radical | George Williams | 93 | 19.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 95 | 20.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | c. 283 | c. 5.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 5,350 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | |
Huskisson's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 30 November 1830: Liverpool :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | William Ewart | 2,215 | 50.3 | +30.6 |
| | Whig | Evelyn Denison | 2,186 | 49.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,401 | c. 82.3 | c. +77.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 5,350 | | |
| | Radical gain from Tory | Radical gain from Tory | Swing | N/A | |
* The by-election was declared void but no new writ was issued before dissolution
General election 1831: Liverpool (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | William Ewart | 1,919 | 43.5 | +23.8 |
| | Whig | Evelyn Denison | 1,890 | 42.8 | N/A |
| | Tory | Isaac Gascoyne | 607 | 13.7 | −66.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,721 | c. 50.9 | c. +45.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 5,350 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29 | 0.7 | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Tory | Radical gain from Tory | Swing | +28.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,283 | 29.1 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Swing | N/A | |
Denison was also elected for Nottinghamshire and chose to sit there, causing a by-election.
By-election, 21 October 1831: Liverpool :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Dudley Ryder | 1,519 | 69.4 | +55.7 |
| | Radical | Thomas Thornely | 670 | 30.6 | −12.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 849 | 38.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,189 | c. 40.9 | c. −10.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 5,350 | | |
| | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Swing | +34.3 | |

### 1832–1868

General election 1832: Liverpool (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | William Ewart | 4,931 | 29.8 | +8.1 |
| | Tory | Dudley Ryder | 4,260 | 25.8 | +19.0 |
| | Radical | Thomas Thornely | 4,096 | 24.8 | +3.1 |
| | Tory | Howard Douglas | 3,249 | 19.6 | +12.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,851 | 78.4 | c. +27.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,283 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 671 | 4.0 | +3.3 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | −3.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 164 | 1.0 | N/A |
| | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Swing | +1.3 | |
General election 1835: Liverpool (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Dudley Ryder | 4,407 | 27.6 | +1.8 |
| | Radical | William Ewart | 4,075 | 25.5 | −29.1 |
| | Conservative | Howard Douglas | 3,869 | 24.2 | +4.6 |
| | Whig | James Morris | 3,627 | 22.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,167 | 65.4 | −13.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,492 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 332 | 2.1 | +1.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +8.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 206 | 1.3 | −2.7 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | −16.2 | |
General election 1837: Liverpool (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Dudley Ryder | 4,786 | 26.6 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative | Cresswell Cresswell | 4,652 | 25.8 | +1.6 |
| | Radical | William Ewart | 4,381 | 24.3 | +11.6 |
| | Radical | Howard Elphinstone | 4,206 | 23.3 | +10.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 271 | 1.5 | −0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,091 | 81.3 | +15.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,179 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −6.1 | |
| | Conservative gain from Radical | Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | −4.8 | |
General election 1841: Liverpool (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Dudley Ryder | 5,979 | 28.7 | +2.1 |
| | Conservative | Cresswell Cresswell | 5,792 | 27.8 | +2.0 |
| | Whig | Joshua Walmsley | 4,647 | 22.3 | N/A |
| | Whig | Henry Temple | 4,431 | 21.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,145 | 5.5 | +4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,425 (est) | 67.1 (est) | c. −14.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 15,539 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
Cresswell resigned after being appointed a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, causing a by-election.
By-election, 8 February 1842: Liverpool :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Howard Douglas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1847: Liverpool (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Peelite | Edward Cardwell | 5,581 | 32.9 | New |
| | Whig | Thomas Birch | 4,882 | 28.8 | −14.8 |
| | Conservative | Sir Digby Mackworth, 4th Baronet | 4,089 | 24.1 | −4.6 |
| | Conservative | John Manners | 2,413 | 14.2 | −13.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,483 (est) | 49.9 (est) | −17.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,004 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 699 | 4.1 | N/A |
| | Peelite gain from Conservative | Peelite gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 793 | 4.7 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | −2.9 | |
General election 1852: Liverpool (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Turner | 6,693 | 28.8 | +4.7 |
| | Conservative | William Forbes Mackenzie | 6,367 | 27.4 | +13.2 |
| | Peelite | Edward Cardwell | 5,247 | 22.6 | −10.3 |
| | Whig | Joseph Christopher Ewart | 4,910 | 21.1 | −7.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,120 | 4.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,609 (est) | 66.6 (est) | +16.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,433 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Peelite | Conservative gain from Peelite | Swing | +6.9 | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +11.1 | |
Election declared void on petition, due to bribery and treating by Mackenzie and Turner, causing a by-election.
By-election, 9 July 1853: Liverpool (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Horsfall | 6,034 | 34.4 | +5.6 |
| | Conservative | Henry Liddell | 5,543 | 31.6 | +4.2 |
| | Whig | Thomas Erskine Perry | 4,673 | 26.7 | +5.6 |
| | Ind. Conservative | John Bramley-Moore | 1,274 | 7.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 870 | 4.9 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,462 (est) | 64.7 (est) | −1.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,182 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.4 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.7 | |
Liddell succeeded to the peerage, becoming 2nd Baron Ravensworth and causing a by-election.
By-election, 29 March 1855: Liverpool :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Joseph Christopher Ewart | 5,718 | 57.3 | +36.2 |
| | Conservative | George Bonham | 4,262 | 42.7 | −13.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,456 | 14.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,980 | 56.1 | −10.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,795 | | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +24.9 | |
General election 1857: Liverpool (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Horsfall | 7,566 | 36.0 | +7.2 |
| | Whig | Joseph Christopher Ewart | 7,121 | 33.9 | +12.8 |
| | Conservative | Charles Turner | 6,316 | 30.1 | +2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,502 (est) | 57.3 (est) | −9.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 18,314 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 445 | 2.1 | −2.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.4 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 805 | 3.8 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +1.5 | |
General election 1859: Liverpool (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Christopher Ewart | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Thomas Horsfall | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 18,779 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1865: Liverpool (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Horsfall | 7,866 | 34.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Samuel Robert Graves | 7,500 | 33.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Joseph Christopher Ewart | 7,160 | 31.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 340 | 1.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,843 (est) | 72.0 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 20,618 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |

### 1868–1885

Seat increased to three members
General election 1868: Liverpool (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Samuel Robert Graves | 16,766 | 26.5 | −6.8 |
| | Conservative | Dudley Ryder | 16,222 | 25.6 | −9.3 |
| | Liberal | William Rathbone | 15,337 | 24.2 | +8.3 |
| | Liberal | William Nathaniel Massey | 15,017 | 23.7 | +7.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 885 | 1.4 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,671 (est) | 79.9 (est) | +7.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 39,645 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −7.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −8.6 | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
Graves' death caused a by-election.
By-election, 10 February 1873: Liverpool :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Torr | 18,702 | 52.7 | +0.6 |
| | Liberal | William Sproston Caine | 16,790 | 47.3 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,912 | 5.4 | +4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,492 | 67.1 | −12.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 52,912 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.6 | |
General election 1874: Liverpool (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Dudley Ryder | 20,206 | 27.0 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative | John Torr | 19,763 | 26.4 | −0.1 |
| | Liberal | William Rathbone | 16,706 | 22.3 | −1.9 |
| | Liberal | William Sproston Caine | 15,801 | 21.1 | −2.6 |
| | Lib-Lab | William Shaw Simpson | 2,435 | 3.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,057 | 4.1 | +2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,673 (est) | 70.4 (est) | −9.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 54,952 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.8 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.2 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.3 | |
Ryder was appointed Vice-President of the Committee of the Council on Education, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 14 March 1874: Liverpool :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Dudley Ryder | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Torr's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 6 February 1880: Liverpool :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Whitley | 26,106 | 52.2 | −1.2 |
| | Liberal | John Ramsay | 23,885 | 47.8 | +4.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,221 | 4.4 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,991 | 78.2 | +7.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 63,946 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.8 | |
General election 1880: Liverpool (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Ramsay | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Dudley Ryder | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Edward Whitley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 63,946 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Ramsay succeeded to the peerage, becoming Earl of Dalhousie, causing a by-election.
By-election, 9 August 1880: Liverpool :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Claud Hamilton | 21,019 | 52.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Samuel Plimsoll | 19,118 | 47.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,901 | 4.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,137 | 62.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 63,946 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
Ryder succeeded to the peerage, becoming Earl of Harrowby, causing a by-election.
By-election, 11 December 1882: Liverpool :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Samuel Smith | 18,198 | 50.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Arthur Forwood | 17,889 | 49.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 309 | 0.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,087 | 58.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 62,039 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |